Inclosed electric switch and method of assembling the same



July 3, 1928.

J. SACHS INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAMEOriginal Filed Jan. 28, 1922 INVENTOR. Jasgu/y Sachs BY A TTORN E Y.

p 30 along the line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Pasta July' 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SACIETS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.-

INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME.

Original application filed January 28, 1922, Serial No. 532,450. Dividedand this application filed.

August 23, 1926.

The invention relates particularly to a switch mechanism wherein theswitch proper is inclosed in a protecting casing, ordinarily of sheetmetal, and wherein there is provided a cranked operating spindle for theswitch vrotatably mounted in bearing apertures in the side walls of thecasing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved meansand an 1mproved method whereby the operating sp1n dle may be readily putinto its proper operative position in the casing and then convenientlyand effectively held in such position.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown two embodiments of themechanical.

features of the invention and one way in which my improved method may beprac- "ticed. It will be understood, however, that the drawing isintended ,for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed asdefining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims'forming apart of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing: I Fig. 1 is a front view of an inclosed switch embodyingthe mechanical features of the invention.-

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken Fig. 3 is a right side eevation. Fig. 4 is an isometric perspective view on areduced scaleshowing the initial formation of the casing as shown in its finalcondition in Figs. 1,2 and. 3. In this view'the operating spindle isshown in an intermedlate position which it may assume durlng theassembling operation.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing adifferent embodiment of the mechanical features of the invention.

I do not limit myself to any one type of switch mechanism, but forpurposes of clearly illustrating the; invention I have shown one form ofswitch mechanism which may be used.

The mechanism as shown comprises a base 1 on which are mountedstationary switch contacts 2, 2 and 3, 3. Pivoted to the respective.contacts 2, 2 are movable switch members 4, 4 which are adapted toengage the contacts 3, 3 when moved into pos tions parallel with thebase as shown in Fig. 2.

Serial No. 131,042.

Also mounted on the base are fuse clips 5, 5 and 6, 6 the clips 5, 5being connected respectively with theswitch contacts 2, 2. The sa dcontacts are adapted to receive cartridge fuses 7 7 which are thusconnected in series with the switches.

For inclosing the entire switch and fuse mechanism there is provided acasing 8 hav- 1ng a back wall 9 and side walls 10 and 11. Asillustrated, the base 1 is secured directly to the back wall 9 of thecasing, but as to this, there may be variation. The casing is providedwith a cover 12, preferably hinged to the casing at the bottom. Thecover is. provided with inward extending flanges 13 which, when thecover is closed, overlap the slde and end walls'of the casing.

For operating the switch members 4, 4 there is provided an operatingspindle 14 comprising two aligned pivot sections 15 and 16 with a cranksection 17 between the1n,the said crank section including crank arms 17'and 17 The length of the crank sections 1 17 is such that the two sidewalls 10 and 11 of the casing are closely adjacent the ends of the saidcrank section. The spindle also comprises a handle 18 at the end of oneof the pivot sections such as the section 16. The two side walls 10 and11 of the casing are provided respectively with bearing apertures 19 and20 for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections15 and 16 of the operating spindle. WVhen the spindle is in place withits pivot sections fitting the said bearing apertures, the handle-18 ison the exterior of the casing as already shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Inorder that the switch members 4, 4 may be moved by the crank section 17of the spindle, the said members are provided respectively with plates21, 21 of insulating material, each plate being provided with a slot oraperture as shown at 22 for receiving the said crank section 17. Fromthe foregoingdescription it will be obvious that when the handle 18 isturned the switch members 4, 4 are correspondingly moved to be engagedwith or disengaged from the stationary switch contacts 3, 3.

In accordance with the present invention I provide. a novel and improvedmeans and a novel and improved method whereby the operating spindle maybe ut in place and held in place as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

dle is moved endwise and in substantial par- The slot is shown as beingparallel with the back wall. of the casing, but it will be understoodthat this position is not essentlal.

The width of the slot is at least equal to the diameter of the spindleand it will also be understood that the length of the slot must be atleast equal to the amount of offset of the crank section '17 of thespindle so as to permit the spindle to beinserted endwise through theslot. During insertion the spinallelism with itself into its finaloperative position with the pivot sections 16 and 17 respectivelyfitting the bearing apertures 19 and 20 and with the handle 18 on theexterior ofFthe casing adjacent the slotted side wall 11.

In accordance with the invention I PTO? vide a closure associated withthe casin for closing said slot 23 after the spindle is in place, thisclosure also serving to hold the corresponding pivot section 16 in placein the bearing aperture 20. A further and very 0 important function ofthe closure is to serve in cooperation with the casing side walls toprevent or limit endwise movement of the spindle. Such movement isprevented by reason of the engagement of the said crank section at itsends with the said closure and with the side walls 10 and 11.

As to the exact form of closure there may be considerable variation andthe closure may be formed integrally with the casing or otherwise.However, I prefer and have illustrated a closure which is formedinterally with the side wall 11 of the casing. is shown, particularly inFig; 4, the slot 23 is formed by slitting the side wall betweeen theedges thereof and by bending a portion thereof adjacent the slit awayfrom the plane of the said side wall so as to form a projecting lip 24and so as to leave the said slot. After the spindle has been put inplace the lip 24 may be bent backward or returned to the plane of theside wall, the

lip thus forming a closure for the slot as clearly shown in Fig. 3 andserving to hold the pivot-section 16 in place in its bearing aperture asalso shown in the same figure. The lip also serves, as alreadydescribed, to prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

. As already stated I do not limit myself to an integrally formedclosure for the slot, but when an integrally formed closure is providedtherev may be some variation as concerns thedetails thereof. In Fig. 5 I

have shown a construction somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 5, butinstead of providing asingle lip 24 for forming the closure, I haveprovided four separate lips practice. This application constitutes adivision of my copending application for electric switches, SerialNumber 532,450, filed January 28, 1922, allowed Oct. 6,v 1925, and Yforfeited April 6, 1926, I do not herein broadly claim a slotted sidewall for .the

purpose described nor do I herein broadly claim the method involving theuse of a slotted side wall. These subjects matter are set forth andbroadly claimed in my copending application for inclosed electric switchand method of assembling the same,

Serial Number.131,041, filed on even date herewith.

. What I claim is:v

1 The combination with a switch comprising stationaity contacts and anassociated movable member, of a single piece switch.

operating spindlecomprising two aligned pivot sections with an off-setcrank section between them operatively connected with the movable switchmember and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivotsections, an inclosing casing for the said switch having its oppositeside walls ,closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section of thespindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearingapertures for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivotsections of the spindle, the said casing also initially having in one ofits side walls a narrow slot communicating with the correspondingbearing aperture and closed at both ends, the said slot having a widthand a length sufiicient to permit the said spindle to be moved endwiseand in substantial parallelism through the slot into its operativeposition with the ivot sections thereof fittingthe res ective ear mgapertures and with the ban le on the extenor of the casing adjacent theslot-ted side wall, and a closure associatedwith the easmg for closingthe said slot and for holding the corresponding pivot section in placein its bearin aperture, the said closure cooperating with the casingside walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent and.- wisemovement of the spindle.

2. The combination with a switch comprising stationary contacts and anamociated slitted between the edges thereof with the metal adjacent theslit bent away from the plane of the side wall to form lip and to leavea slot in the said wall closed at both ends and communicating with thecorresponding bearing aperture, the said slot having a width and alength sufiicient to permit the said spindleto be moved endwise and insubstantial parallelism through the slot into its operative positionwith the pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing aperturesand with the handle on the extenor of the casing adjacent the slottedside wall, and the said projeeting'lip being adapted to bereturned tothe plane of the corresponding side wall after the spindle is in p aceso as 'to close the slot and hold the corresponding pivot section-inplace in its beari aperture and so as to also cooperate with t eotherparts'of the said side walls to engage the crank section andthereby prevent endwise movement of the indle,

3. The herein described meth bling an electric switch inclosing casingand a single piece with operating spindle com-' prising two' alignedpivot sections with a crank section between them and also comprisingahandle at the end of one of said ivot. sections, the said methodcomprisin initially forming the casing with. aligned bearing aperturesin its opposite side walls for receiving and approximately fitting theres tive pivot sections of the spindle and wit a slot in one of the sidewalls closed at both ends and communicatin with the correspondingbearing aperture, t en movin the spindle endwise and in substantial paraa projectingof assemlelism throu h the slot into its operative positionwith te pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing aperturesand with the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slottedside wall, and finally when the spindle is in position providing aclosure for the slot which closure serves to hold the correspondingpivot section in place in its bearing aperture and also serves incooperation with the casing side walls to engage the crank section andthereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle. 1

4.'The herein defcribed method of assem bling an electric switchinclosing casing and a single piece switch operating spindle comprisingtwo aligned pivot sections with a crank section between them and alsocomprisinga handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, thesaid method comprisin initially forming the casin with bearing aperturesin its opposite side walls for receiving and approximately fitting theres tive ivot sections of the spindle and wit aslot in one of the sidewalls closed at its ends and communicating with the correspondin bearingaperture and formed by slitting t e side wall between the edges thereofand bending a portion of the metal thereof to form a projecting lip,then moving the spindle endwise and in substantal parallelism throughthe slot into its operative position with t e pivot sections thereoffitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on theexterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall, and finally whenthe spindle is in position bending the said lip to return it to theplane of the correwalls to engage the crank section and thereby preventendwise movement of the spindle.

JOSEPH SACHS.

